THE beautiful woman who sells her favors and then repents – culture just can’t seem to get enough of her.

A prime example is Jules Massenet’s 1894 “Thais,” revived on Monday night at the Metropolitan Opera. Superstars Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson lead a production by John Cox borrowed from the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

“Thais” is based on an 1890 novel by Anatole France that was inspired by the legend of mythical Saint Thais. An actress and courtesan in ancient Egypt, she gets saved by Athanaël, an obsessed monk who knew her in his pre-holy days. But hypocrisy rears it head: Martyr-like, Thais succumbs to disease, while Athanaël realizes it’s her body he’s been hungering for.

As a vehicle, “Thais” is a diva’s holiday, but it would be difficult to pretend this is one of Massenet’s best scores. While sopranos cannot resist her, opera house administrations are less enthusiastic.

This indeed marks the opera’s first appearance at the Met since 1978, when it was sounded by Beverly Sills’ pealing and poignant tones. Fleming’s smokier, meticulously shaded voice is also voluptuously well-suited to the role. On Monday night, a few dicey moments aside, she sang very well. So did Hampson, whose baritone was increasingly resonant as the evening progressed.

Paul Brown’s set designs are a deliberately gaudy jumble. Fleming has reinstated an old-time operatic prerogative and brought in her own costumes, floor-length gowns designed by no less than couturier Christian Lacroix. Wearing a mane of crinkled blond locks – and thinner than ever – Fleming certainly is alluring.

Fleming and Hampson have been warming up for years for Monday night’s performance. Yet for the first half of Monday’s opening, Hampson seemed distinctly uncomfortable: One imagined him wishing “Thais” would turn into Richard Strauss’ “Salome,” in which he’d be able to play a similar character but sing more interesting music.

Fleming’s vamping and flouncing are meant to make Thais more contemporary, but they don’t make her relevant so much as rob her of some mystery and stature.